Machine for applying pressure to shoe bottoms



Jan. 18, 1938.

F. KENNISON Filed March 24, 1957 Figrl.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS 3 Sheets-Sheet l M34 m m 1 I94 IIIIIIII/l Jan. 18, 1938. F. KENNISON 2,105,601

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE T0 SHOE BOTTOMS Filed March 24, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l limnmn I //////f!/IIIIIIIIII1 F. KENNISON 2,105,601

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WI/E/VTU/F QM /ym w.

Jan. 18, 1938.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed March 24, 1937 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Application March 24, 1937, Serial No. 132,814

21 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes, and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of that type in which the pressure is applied at one time to all portions of the shoe bottom that are treated by the pressing means.

It has been proposed to utilize machines of the above-mentioned type for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the forepart and shank portions of the bottoms of shoes on wooden lasts by the use of a shaped pressing form or pad. In the use of a shaped pressing pad for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes of difierent sizes and styles, it is necessary, for best results that each shoe be positioned in proper lengthwise relation to the pad for the pressing operation, that is, with the forepart and shank portions of each shoe exactly opposite the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pad. Accordingly, the present invention, in one important aspect, provides novel means for accomplishing this result. The machine herein shown comprises a shoe support movable from a shoereceiving position to a position beneath the pressing pad for the pressing operation, a positioning device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine the lengthwise position of the shoe on the support, and mechanism for moving the positioning device lengthwise of the shoe into different positions in accordance with variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of difierent sizes and styles to locate the ball line of each shoe opposite the junction of the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pressing pad. As herein shown, the shoe support comprises a shoe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe and a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole. The shoe rest and heel-end support are mounted on a carrier, the heel-end support being movable with the last and shoe toward the shoe rest in the jacking operation and being mounted also for tipping movement to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe on the shoe rest. The positioning device is mounted on a slide on the carrier, and the slide is connected to a bell-crank lever swinging movements of which to vary the size positions of the positioning device are controlled by an adjustable cam. The bell-crank lever is pivotally connected to an arm which is movable about the same axis as the above-mentioned cam into different predetermined positions to efiect relative swinging movements of difierent extent beween the bell-crank lever and the cam to determine variably for shoes of different styles the difierent size positions of the positioning device. Preferably and in accordance with another feature of the invention the shoe rest is mounted on a slide which is connected to the above-mentioned bell-crank 5 lever for movement with the positioning device in the same direction but to a diflerent extent to adjust the relative positions of the shoe rest and the device in operating on shoes of different sizes and styles, the construction being such that the position of the shoe rest relatively to the positioning device is varied in accordance with variations in the relative lengths of the toe ends of shoes of difierent sizes and styles.

To compensate for difierences in height of lasts 15 of difierent sizes, in accordance with another feature of the invention, the mechanism for moving the positioning device lengthwise of the shoe into difierent predetermined positions for shoes of difierent sizes is arranged also to adjust the above-mentioned carrier heightwise of the shoe relatively to a table on which the carrier is mounted to cause each shoe to be positioned with its bottom face in substantially the same height- Wise relation to the pressing pad.

The above and other features of the invention including novel means for locking the heel-end support against movement in a direction away from the shoe rest and for releasing it for such movement in response to tipping movement of the heel-end support away from the shoe rest, and various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. 5

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a machine in which the invention is embodied, showing the parts in the positions that they occupy with a shoe under pressure in the machine; 40

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line H-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the shoe and last supporting means as it appears from the opposite side of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section of the shoe and last supporting means with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the shoe and last supporting means;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view, with parts in section, of a portion of the mechanism for adjusting the shoe rest and the device for engaging the toe end of the shoe; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the mounting of the shoe bottom pressing means.

The invention is illustrated herein as applied to a machine of the same general type as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,771,019, granted July 22, 1930, upon an application of W. C. Stewart. Only such parts of the machine therefore as it is necessary particularly to refer to for an understanding of the invention are herein shown and will be described in detail.

Machines of the type illustrated in the abovementioned Letters Patent are twin machines each comprising two sets of instrumentalities which are substantial duplicates of each other and are operated alternately to apply pressure to diirerent shoes, the arrangement being such that as a shoe is subjected to pressure by either set of instrumentalities a shoe previously operated upon by the other set is released from pressure. The machine is provided with two pairs of vertical rods 2B which support near their upper ends a cross head 22 from which there is suspended the vertically adjustable shoe bottom pressing means of each set of instrumentalities. In the illustrated machine the pressing means of each set of instrumentalities comprises a pad box 24 which is constructed substantially as shown in Letters Patent No. 2,047,185, granted July 14, 1936, upon an application of M. H. Ballard et a1. fitted with a pressing pad 26 constructed substantially as shown in a copending application Serial No. 97,017, filed August 20, 1936, in the name of Sidney J. Finn. The lengthwise contour of the pressing face of the pad 25 may be varied to ac commodate shoes of difierent styles by vertical movement of a shaft 23 to vary the angle between the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pad. The shaft 28 corresponds to shaft [I H34 in the prior Letters Patent No. 2,047,185 and has fast thereon gear segments 39, one of which is shown in Fig. 1, meshing with fixed segments 32 on the pad box 2 3. Fast to the shaft 28 is a handle 35 for turning it to adjust its heightwise position and carried by the handle is a spring-pressed plunger 36 (Fig. 3) arranged to enter any one of a series of holes 38 in a plate 49 fast to the pad box 24 to hold the handle and the shaft in adjusted position. As herein shown, the pad box 24 is secured by screws 42 (Figs. 1 and 9) to a holder M which is provided with a pair of trunnions 55 mounted in bearings formed in the downwardly extending arms 58 of a support Ellso that the pad box may tip about an axis extending laterally of the shoe and located, as shown, substantially at the junction of the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pad 26. The pad box is maintained normally in a predetermined position by means of equal springs 52, 541 (Fig. 1) which extend between the support 5%] and the holder M and tend to swing the holder in opposite directions.

Each support 59 has tongue and groove connections (Fig. 2) with the crosshead 22 to maintain it in the proper lateral position and extending upwardly through a central bore in the support 50 is a rod 56 fastened to the support by a pin 58 (Fig. 9). The rod 58 extends upwardly through a hand wheel 6@ provided with a hub portion 82 threaded into the cross head 22. Between the rod 56 and the hand wheel is a bushing 64 provided with a head 65 and surrounding the rod 56 between the head 66 and a shoulder 63 on the support 59 is a heavy compression spring in which tends to hold the bushing with its head (it in engagement with the lower end face of the hub 62 of the hand wheel. Above the head 86 the bushing 64 is slightly longer than the hub of the hand wheel and engaging the upper end face of the bushing is a Washer 72 supported by a nut l4 threaded on the upper end of the rod 5%. t will be evident that by rotating the hand wheel Bil the heightwise position of the support 59 and the pad box 2 2 may be varied.

Associated with each set of instrumentalities is a table 76 pivotally mounted on two parallel links 78 of equal lengths which are swung from forwardly inclined positions rearwardly to substantially vertical positions and are raised in each power operation of the machine. To determine its innermost position each table 76 carries a pin 8!] which is arranged to enter a recess in a member 82 mounted on the vertical rods 28. It will be understood that as each table 28 is moved by the equal links 78 into and out of position beneath the pressing pad 25 the table 76 is always maintained parallel to a fixed plane.

Mounted on each table it is a shoe support or jack comprising a shoe rest or support 8 for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe and a last pin 86 arranged to engage the heel end of each last in its spindle hole. The shoe rest 8% is hollowed out laterally to receive the shoe and comprises a rubber pad 36 covered with leather or other suitable material and mounted on a block 88 which is adjustable in directions widthwise of the shoe in a guideway formed in the upper end of a post 93, a screw 92 being provided for holding the block in adjusted position. The last pin 86 is secured to a holder 94 which is arranged to en gage the top of the cone of the last to assist in supporting the last and shoe firmly against pres sure applied on the bottom of the shoe. The holder 94 has a curved face 95 seated in a similarly shaped slot in a slide 96 to permit it to tip freely about an axis extending laterally oi the shoe to adjust itself to the top face of each last. A screw 98 carried by the slide 96 and arranged to extend into an arcuate slot Hit in the holder limits its tipping movement. The holder 94 is controlled by a spring 962 which tends to tip the heel pin 86 toward the shoe rest 84. The slide 95 is mounted in guideways EM (Figs. 1 and 4) formed in a carrier Hi5 for movement toward and from the shoe rest 84. When the shoe is mounted on the heel pin 86 the slide 96 is moved forwardly by the operator to carry the toe end of the shoe into engagement with the shoe rest 8 the spring 592 acting to tip the heel pin 36 in a direction to press the toe end of the shoe on the rest 85. For locking the slide 96 against rearward movement in a direction away from the shoe rest there is secured to the carrier use by screws 568 a ratchet plate H0 and pivotally mounted on the slide 95 is a pawl l 52 which is urged by a spring I it in a direction to engage any one of a number of teeth M6 on the ratchet plate lit. For swinging the pawl H2 in a direction to disengage it from the teeth H6 and to release the slide 96 for rearward movement there is provided a pin i it which projects from the holder 9% and is arranged to engage a lip I20 on the pawl and to swing the pawl against the resistance of the spring 2 i l out of engagement With the teeth i it in response to tipping movement of the last pin 86 in a direction away from the shoe rest 84.

As previously pointed out, the angle between the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pad 26 is varied by movement of the handle 34 to vary the heightwise position of the shaft 28, the construction being such that the lengthwise contour of the pressing face of the pad is thus varied to adapt it for operating upon shoes mounted on lasts designed to accommodate heels of difierent heights. The length of the pressing pad is such as to accommodate a large range of shoes of different sizes. In the pressing opera ion it is necessary, for best results, that each shoe, of whatever style or size, be positioned in proper relation to the pressing pad, that is, with its forepart and shank portions exactly beneath the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pad. For this purpose it is convenient to utilize the ball line of each shoe as a line of reference in determining the proper lengthwise position of the shoe in the machine. For thus determining the lengthwise position of the shoe there is provided a toe gage or positioning device I22 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) which is carried by a slide I24 movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe along guideways I26 on a slide I28 which is also movable lengthwise of the shoe in guideways I30 formed in the carrier I06 (Fig. 8). The slide I24 is connected by means of a link I32 (Figs. 6 and 8) to the end of one arm I34 of a bell-crank lever I36 (Fig. 6) pivotally connected at I38 to an arm I46 mounted to turn freely on a stud I42 projecting upwardly from the plate 16 intermediate between its pivotal connections to the links 18 (Fig. 1). The carrier I06 is supported in spaced relation to the table 16 by a pair of disks I44, I46 through which the stud I42 extends. The disk I44 is fastened to the plate 16 against turning movement on the stud I42 by a screw I48 (Fig. 1). Formed on the disk I46 is a cam face I50 and engaging this face is a roll I52 carried by a laterally extending arm I54 of the bell-crank I36. Connected at one end to a pin I56 projecting from the carrier I06 and at the other end to the arm I34 of the bell-crank lever I36 isa spring I58 which tends to swing the bellcrank lever in a direction to hold the roll I52 in engagement with the cam face I56.

Pivotally connected to the disk I46 is a handle I60 for turning the disk on the stud I42. Clockwise movement of the disk I46 (Fig. 6) causes the spring I58 to swing the bell crank-lever I36 about its pivotal connection with the arm I49 in a direction to move the slide I24 and the toe gage I22 through the link I32 to the left. Counterclockwise movement of the disk I46 causes the bell-crank lever I36 to be swung against the resistance of the spring I58 in the opposite direction by engagement of the cam with the roll I52 to move the slide I24 and the toe gage I22 to the right. Formed on the handle I60 is a projection I62 having a V-shaped end arranged to enter any one of a series of V-shaped notches I64 formed in the edge of an arcuate rib I66 on the carrier I06. A spring I68 (Fig. 1) tends to swing the handle I60 in a direction to hold the projection I62 in engagement with the rib I66 in one of the notches I64 and thus to lock the disk I46 against movement relatively to the carrier I06. A scale I16 (Fig. 6) on the rib I66 indicates with reference to the notches I64 the different positions into which the handle I60 is to be moved to vary the positions of the toe gage for shoes of diiTerent sizes, the shape of the cam I58 being such that the positions of the toe gage are varied in accordance with variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of difierent sizes so that each shoe is positioned by the toe gage with its ball line in substantially the same vertical plane as the axis of the stud I42. When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. l with the pin 80 in the recess in the member 82 and the equal links 18 in substantially vertical positions, the axis of the stud I42 is in substantially the same vertical plane as the axis of the trunnions 46 and the junction of the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pad- 26. Thus each shoe is presented in proper lengthwise relation to the pad for the sole pressing operation.

In order that shoes of different styles, that is, shoes that vary with respect to the relative lengths of their forepart and shank portions may be positioned in proper relation to the sole pressing pad 26, means is provided for varying the position of the toe gage I22 to take care of such variations in relative lengths. This means comprises a handle I 12 pivotally connected to the arm I40 and by means of which the operator may swing the arm on the stud I42 to move the bell-crank lever I36 relatively to the disk I46. As the bell-crank lever is thus moved it is swung relatively to the arm I40 either by the spring I58 to move the toe gage I22 to the left (Fig. 6) or by the cam I50 to move the toe gage to the right, the arrangement being such that the position of the toe gage may thus be varied to take care of variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of different styles Without varying the size adjustment of the disk I46. For determining different positions of the toe gage I22 in operating upon shoes of difierent styles there is formed in the handle I12 a plurality of recesses I14 and arranged to engage the handle in any one of these recesses is a pin I16 in the carrier I06. A spring-pressed plunger I18 in the carrier acts to hold the handle I12 in engagement with the pin I16 in one of the recesses I14.

The toe post 90 is threaded into a slide I80 which is mounted on the slide I28 and has a pair of forwardly extending arms I82 having tongue and groove connections with the slide I28 to permit the slide I80 to be moved relatively to the slide I28 in directions lengthwise of the shoe to adjust the toe rest 84 toward or from the toe gage I 22 into position to engage the top of the forepart of the shoe in proper relation to its toe end. Carried by the slide I28 is a screw I84 having a reduced end portion arranged to extend into any one of a plurality of bored holes I86 in the slide I80 to lock the two slides I28, I80 against relative movement with the toe rest in adjusted position. Pivotally connected to the slide I28 is a link I88 the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the arm I34 of the bellcrank lever I36 between the link I32 and the pivotal connection of the bell-crank lever to the arm I40. It will be evident that as the bell-crank lever I36 is swung relatively to the arm I40 either by rotation of the disk I46 to adjust the toe gage I22 for shoes of diiTerent sizes or by movement of the handle I12 to vary the position of the toe gage to take care of variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of diiferent styles a movement in the same direction as the toe gage but of less extent will be imparted to the toe rest 84. The adjustment of the toe rest is thus eiTected simultaneously with the adjustment of the toe gage for shoes of difierent sizes and styles, the construction being preferably such that the toe rest is also adjusted relatively to the toe gage different amounts proportionate to the relative lengths of the toe ends of shoes of different sizes and styles to position the toe rest for engagement with each shoe in substantially the same relative lengthwise position.

To compensate for differences in height of lasts of difierent sizes the contacting faces of the disks I44 and I46 are inclined in opposite directions so that rotation of the disk I46 on the stud I42 to adjust the size positions of the toe gage I22 and the toe rest 34 effects a heightwise adjustment of the shoe support. In the construction shown there are formed on the disk I44 a pair of curved bosses I90, I92 on which rest curved bosses I94, I96 depending from the disk I46. The contacting faces of the bosses are helecoidal so that the carrier I06 is raised in response to clockwise movement of the disk I46 and is lowered in response to counterclockwise movement of the disk I46 at such a rate that the bottom face of each last is at substantially the same height irrespective of the size of the last. As the carrier is thus moved relatively to the table IE it is guided by the stud I42 and also by a stud I98 secured to the carrier by a screw 200 and arranged to extend into a vertical bore 202 in the table and by a projection 204 on the carrier the opposite side faces of which are engaged by upwardly projecting lugs 206 on the table.

In the illustrated construction, the toe gage I22 is adjustablysecured to the upper end of a post 208 which is vertically movable in the slide I24 and is upheld with the toe gage in position to engage the toe end of the shoe on the shoe rest 34 by means of a spring 2E0 located within a central recess within the post 208 and engaging at its. lower end a pin 2I2 carried by the slide I24. The post 208 (Figs. and 3) is provided with vertical slots 2I4 to receive the pin 2I2, the pin acting thus to prevent turning movement of the post in the slide I24 and also to limit upward movement of the post by engagement with the post at the lower ends of the slots 2M. The toe gage I22 has a tongue and groove connection with the upper end of the post 208 to permit it to be adjusted toward or from the toe rest 84, a screw 2I6 being provided for holding the toe gage in adjusted position on the post. The spring 2I0 permits the toe gage I22 to yield in response to pressure of the pad 26 on the gage as the shoe support is raised by upward movement of the links I8 to press the bottom of the shoe against the pad after the links have been swung from their forwardly inclined positions rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1. For locking the toe gage I22 in its lowered position to permit the operator to treat the sole with a rub stick, if desired, at the end of the leveling operation, after the shoe support has been moved outwardly to its initial position, there is pivotally connected to the slide I24 a pawl ZIB which is urged by a spring 220 in a direction to engage the upper end of the post 208 (Fig. 5). It will be understood that by swinging the pawl 2 I8 to the left (Fig. 5) the operator may release the post 208 to the action of the spring 2H3 which moves the post 208 and the toe gage I22 upwardly until the pin 2I2 engages the post at the lower ends of the slots 2I4.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a pressing pad shaped to conform substantially to the heightwise curvature of the bottom of a shoe for applying pressure to the forepart and. shank portions of the shoe bottom, of a shoe support movable relatively to said pad from a shoe-receiving position to a position opposite said pad for the pressing operation, said shoe support comprising a shoe rest and a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a device for engaging the toe end of each shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said support, mechanism for moving said device lengthwise of the shoe into different positions, and means for predetermining different positions of said mechanism to vary the position of said device in accordance with variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of different sizes and thus to locate the junction of the forepart and shank portions of each shoe opposite the junction of the corresponding portions of the pad when the support is in shoe-pressing position.

2. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a pressing pad shaped to conform substantially to the heightwise curvature of the bottom of a shoe for applying pressure to the forepart and shank portions of the shoe bottom, of a shoe support movable relatively to said pad from a shoereceiving position to a position opposite said pad for the pressing operation, said shoe support comprising a shoe rest and a. heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a device for engaging the toe end of each shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said support, mechanism for moving said device lengthwise of the shoe into diiierent positions, and means for predetermining different positions of said mechanism to vary the position of said device in accordance with variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of diiierent sizes and styles and thus to locate the junction of the forepart and shank portions of each shoe opposite the junction of the corresponding portions of the pad when the support is in shoe-pressing position.

3. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and the heel end for the pressing operation comprising toe and heel-end supports relatively movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe to accommodate shoes of different sizes, a device for engaging the toe end of each shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said supporting means, and mechanism for moving said device lengthwise of the shoe into different positions for shoes of different sizes, said mechanism being constructed to vary the positions of said device in accordance with variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of different sizes to cause each shoe to be positioned by said device with its ball line in substantially the same relation lengthwise of the shoe to said bottom pressing means.

4;. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe for the pressing operation comprising toe and heel-end supports, a toe gage for determining the lengthwise position of a shoe on said supports, and mechanism for moving said toe gage into different positions lengthwise of the shoe for shoes of diiferent sizes to cause each shoe to be positioned with its ball line in substantially the same relation lengthwise of the shoe to said pressing means, said mechanism including a cam for Controlling the movements of said device and for varying its positions in accordance with variations in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of different sizes.

5. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for sup:- porting a last and shoe for the pressing operation comprising a toe rest and a heel-end support, a device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said supporting means, and means for moving said device lengthwise of the shoe into different positions for shoes of different sizes, said lastnamed means comprising a slide on which said device is mounted, an adjustable cam, a lever arranged to be swung by said cam for moving the slide'to vary the position of said device in accordance with variation in the lengths of the foreparts of shoes of different sizes, and a scale for indicating different adjusted positions of said cam in operating upon shoes of different sizes. 6. In a machine for leveling the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a shaped pressing pad for applying leveling pressure to the forepart and shank portions of the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting a shoe and its last for the leveling operation comprising a carrier, toe and heel-end supports mounted on said carrier, a device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said supports, means for moving said device into different positions for shoes of different sizes comprising a member adjustable about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe for varying the different positions of said device in accordance with variations in the length of the foreparts of shoes of different sizes, and means for moving the carrier from a shoe and last receiving position to a position beneath said pressing pad with the axis of said adjustable member substantially in alinement with the junction of the forepart and shank pressing portions of said pressing pad.

7. In a machine for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a shaped pressing pad for applying leveling pressure to the forepart and shank portions of the bottom of a shoe, of a shoe support movable from a shoe-receiving position into position to cooperate with said pad, said support comprising a shoe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, said heel-end support being movable with the last and shoe toward said shoe rest to position the forepart of the shoe in proper relation to said rest, a device arranged by engagement with the toe end of the shoe to determine the lengthwise position of the shoe on said shoe support, and means for moving said device lengthwise of the shoe to a predetermined position corresponding to the size and style of the shoe being operated upon to cause the shoe to be positioned by said device with its ball line substantially opposite the junction of the forepart and shank pressing portions of the pressing pad when the support is in cooperative relation to said pad.

8. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a pressing pad having forepart and shank pressing portions relatively adjustable to vary the lengthwise contour of the pressing face of the pad in accordance with variations in the lengthwise contour of the bottoms of shoes of different styles, of means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and the heel end for the pressing operation, means for engaging the toe end of a shoe on said supporting means to position it in predetermined lengthwise relation to said pressing pad comprising a toe gage movable lengthwise of the shoe into different positions for shoes of difierent sizes, and means for adjustably varying for shoes of different styles the different size positions of said toe gage.

9. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and heel end for the pressing operation, a position ing device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine the lengthwise position of the shoe on said supporting means, and mechanism for moving the positioning device lengthwise of the shoe into different predetermined positions for shoes of different sizes, said mechanism being adjustable to determine variably for shoes of different styles the different size positions of said device.

10. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and the heel end for the pressing operation, a positioning device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine the lengthwise position of the shoe on said supporting means, said device being adjustable lengthwise of the shoe into different predetermined positions for shoes of different sizes, a cam for controlling said positioning device, and means for moving the device relatively to the cam to vary its adjusted positions to compensate for variations in the relative lengths of the foreparts of shoes of different styles.

11. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and the heel end for the pressing operation, a carrier on which said supporting means is mounted, a positioning device on said carrier for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said supporting means, a slide for moving said device lengthwise of the shoe into different positions for shoes of different sizes, a lever swingable to move the slide, a cam for controlling the lever to vary the size positions of said device, and an arm for swinging the lever relatively to the cam to adjust the size positions of the positioning device for shoes of different styles.

12. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe bottom upward for the pressing operation, said means comprising a shoe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, said heel-end support being movable with the last and shoe toward said shoe rest to position the shoe in proper relation to said rest, a device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said supporting means, and means for moving said device to a predetermined position lengthwise of the shoe corresponding to the size of the shoe being operated upon and for imparting to said shoe rest a movement in the same direction as said device but of less extent to adjust their relative positions.

13. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination. with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe bottom upward for the pressing operation, said supporting means comprising a shoe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine the lengthwise position of the shoe on said supporting means, a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, said heel-end support being movable with the last and shoe toward said device to press the toe end of the shoe against the device, said device being adjustable lengthwise of the shoe to position shoes of different sizes with the ball line of each shoe in predetermined relation lengthwise of the shoe to said pressing means, and means for adjusting said device and for simultaneously varying the position of the shoe rest relatively to said device in accordance with variations in the lengths of the toe ends of shoes of different sizes.

14. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe for the pressing operation comprising a shoe rest and a heel-end support, a device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine the lengthwise position of the shoe on said supporting means, means for moving said device lengthwise of the shoe to a predetermined position corresponding to the size of the shoe being operated upon and for imparting to said shoe rest a movement in the same direction as said device but of less extent to vary the posi: tion of the shoe rest relatively to said device in accordance with the length of the toe end of the shoe, and means for adjustably varying the relative positions of said device and the shoe rest to compensate for variations in the relative lengths of the toe ends of shoes of diiferent styles.

15. In a machine for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a pressing pad shaped to conform substantially to the heightwise curvature of the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting a last and shoe for the leveling operation comprising a shoe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine its lengthwise position on the supporting means, said heelend support being movable bodily with the last and shoe toward said shoe rest and device and being also mounted for tipping movement to tip the last and thereby press the forepart of the shoe on said shoe rest, and means operative in response to such tipping movement of the heelend support for looking it against bodily movement in a direction away from said shoe rest.

16. In a machine for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a pressing pad shaped to conform substantially to the heightwise curvature of the bottom of a shoe, of means for supporting a last and shoe for the leveling operation comprising a shoe rest for engaging the top of the forepart of the shoe, a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a device for engaging the toe end of the shoe to determine its lengthwise position on the supporting means, a slide for moving said heel-end support toward said shoe rest and device, said heel-end support being mounted on said slide for tipping movement about an axis extending laterally of the shoe, means for tipping the heel-end support toward the shoe rest to press the forepart of the shoe on said rest, and means operative in response to such tipping movement of the heel-end support for locking the slide against movement in a direction away from said shoe rest and for releasing the slide for movement in that direction in response to tipping movement of the heel-end support away from said shoe rest.

17. In a machine for shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with a shaped pressing form for applying leveling pressure to the forepart and shank portions of a shoe bottom, of means for supporting a last and shoe for the leveling operation comprising a carrier, toe and heel-end supports mounted on said carrier, a toe gage for determining the lengthwise position of a last and shoe on said supports by engagement with the toe end of the shoe, means for relatively moving the carrier and the form to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said supports, a spring for upholding the toe gage and against the resistance of which the gage is depressible in response to pressure of the form on the gage, and means for locking the toe gage in depressed position.

18. In a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe for the pressing operation comprising a carrier, toe and heel-end supports mounted on said carrier, a positioning device for engaging the toe end of each shoe to determine its lengthwise position on said supports, a table on which said carrier is mounted for adjustment in directions heightwise of the shoe, and mechanism for moving said positioning device lengthwise of the shoe into difierent predetermined positions for shoes of different sizes and for relatively adjusting the carrier and the table heightwise of the shoe to cause each shoe to be positioned with its bottom face in substantially the same heightwise relation to said pressing means.

19. In a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe bottom upward for the pressing operation comprising toe and heelend supports, a carrier on which said supports are mounted, and means for supporting the carrier comprising a table and a pair of disks between the table and the carrier, said disks being relatively rotatable to difierent positions for shoes mounted on lasts of different sizes and having their contacting faces inclined in opposite directions to vary the spaced apart positions of the carrier and the table in accordance with variations in height of lasts of difierent sizes.

20. In a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe bottom upward for the pressing operation comprising toe and heel-end supports relatively movable in directions lengthwise of the shoe to accommodate shoes of different sizes, a carrier on which said supports are mounted, a table beneath said carrier and relatively to which the carrier is adjustable heightwise of the shoe, and means for adjusting the carrier relatively to the table comprising a pair of disks for supporting the carrier in spaced relation to the table, said disks having their contacting faces inclined in opposite directions and one of said disks being movable relatively to the other of said disks into different positions for shoes of different sizes, the inclination of the contacting faces of the disks being arranged to move the carrier relatively to the table to position the bottom face of each last at substantially the same height relatively to the table irrespective of the size of the last.

21. In a machine for applying pressure to the bottoms of shoes mounted on lasts, the combination with shoe bottom pressing means, of means for supporting a last and shoe bottom upward for the pressing operation comprising a shoe rest and a heel-end support including a last pin for engaging the heel end of the last in its spindle hole, a carrier on which said shoe rest and heel-end support are mounted, a positioning device on said carrier for engaging the toe end of a shoe to determine its lengthwise position on the supporting means, said positioning device being movable into different positions lengthwise of the shoe for shoes of different sizes, a table on which the carrier is mounted for adjustment heightwise of the shoe, and mechanism for moving the positioning device lengthwise of the shoe to a predetermined position corresponding to the size of the shoe being operated upon and for efiecting simultaneously a relative heightwise movement of adjustment between the carrier and the table.

FRANK KENNISON. 

